TEHRAN – Some 730 billion rials (around $1.5 million) in humanitarian aid has been collected since October 9 for people in Gaza through a campaign launched by the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The campaign aimed to raise funds to help the oppressed people of Gaza is still ongoing, ISNA quoted Vahid Salimi, an official with the IRCS, as saying on Wednesday.

He went on to say, “From the beginning of the official call for the campaign, more than 730 billion rials (almost $1.5 m) have been deposited by people into the official accounts of the Red Crescent Society.”

“Simultaneously, in addition to an air cargo, a ship carrying humanitarian aid has been sent to Gaza with the cooperation of the Red Crescent Society of Hormozgan province from Shahid Rajaei port. Other shipments are being loaded in this port,” he added.

Iran ready to send humanitarian consignments to Gaza

On November 7, Iran expressed readiness to provide the people of Gaza with humanitarian aid via Egypt amid a massive humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war against the Palestinian enclave. 

The announcement was made in a phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

Also, on November 3, the IRCS called the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the process of dispatching humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs, met with Vincent Cassard, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iran,

The International Committee of the Red Cross should seriously intervene in the clear violation of international humanitarian law and condemn the Zionist regime's airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since it has violated many cases of the four Geneva Conventions, Alishvandi said, IRCS website reported.

Referring to the humanitarian consequences of the Zionist regime's attacks against defenseless civilians which are against the norms and international rules, Alishvandi said these measures challenge humanity and violate international law.

Failing to comply with ethical standards, attacking children, women, and journalists, targeting water, electricity, and fuel infrastructures, as well as starving civilians, etc. are among the cases of human rights violations, she said.

She went on to say that "humanity in Gaza" is in danger and added that targeting the medical staff, hospitals, ambulances and rescuers of the Red Crescent led to the complete collapse of the healthcare sector and ultimately their inability to provide medical services and aid to those injured.

Alishvandi stressed, “A safe way should be found to send relief supplies to this country. Iran's humanitarian shipments should reach the people of Gaza as soon as possible.”

A consignment weighing 20,000 tons is being prepared to be sent to Gaza from Iran, and we request the International Committee of the Red Cross to follow up on obtaining the necessary permits from the Egyptian government to send these shipments, she stated.

“Moreover, the Iranian Red Crescent Society is ready to provide medical services to the wounded and treat them by establishing three mobile hospitals along with sending experienced medical staff to Egypt (Palestine border).”

MT/MG